Heir Hunters Series 9 Preview - Finders are back in action!

It was all hands on deck when the case of Roger Stuart Lennon, initially referred privately to the Finders team became public. Aware that competing firms would also be seeking out Roger's rightful heirs, Finders boss Daniel Curran put everyone on the job of tracing Roger's beneficiaries.

CATCH up - Finders on BBC Heir Hunters Series 8

Follow Finders team of researchers along the exciting trail of discovery that leads through a family history that covers the First World War and shines a light on the old world of domestic service. Meet family members and hear their recollections as the Finders team trace Pub Landlord Michael Naish’s heirs in this episode of the new series of Heir Hunters..

Finders International Probate Genealogists

Finders are one of the world’s leading firms of international probate genealogists. We trace missing heirs and next of kin for Lawyers, Corporate & State Trustees, Councils, Administrators, Executors, Hospitals, Coroners & others needing to identify and locate beneficiaries to estates, funds and assets worldwide.

Pauper Funerals Are On The Rise

Back in April, our MD, Daniel Curran discussed the rise in pauper funerals across the UK, and today we were intrigued to see the BBC Breakfast highlighting just that. They openly detail the cost to local councils of “pauper funerals” has risen almost 30% to £1.7m in the past four years.

These are services paid for by the local authority when someone has died without relatives or money, or when their relatives have been unable to fund the service.

As the population continues to grow, there has been a steady increase across the UK in the number of Pauper (Public Health Act) Funerals over the past five years, with some areas seeing figures double.

BBC Breakfast revealed the biggest increase was in south-east England where there was a rise of 24% since 2009-10, followed by Scotland, where the number went up by 21%. It also rose significantly in the West Midlands and Wales.

However, the largest rise in cost was in south-west England – where public health funerals cost councils 39% more now than they did four years ago. Scotland has also seen a sharp rise in cost, while the north-east of England has seen a similarly steep increase.

With an average cost of £1000 per funeral, Section 46 funerals will become an increasing burden to councils and divert essential funds away from critical areas. Funeral poverty is an unexpectedly potent indicator of the combined impact of recession, austerity, low wages and the insecure job market.